I love the expression ‘if you’re a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger you can be”. It sums up that attitude of having pride in your work regardless of what you are doing, and shifts the focus from the work at hand to the bigger picture of self worth and meaning. When thinking about the work I have done in the past and the teams that have been successful for me it has always boiled down to a shared respect for the goal at hand, and a willingness to see the job to the end. Everyone on the team has had responsibility and, in particular, ownership over their parts and ultimately the entirety of the project. With the idea of a safety moment in mind, I think of this expression, because patient safety is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain. Therefore, pride in one’s job… Continue reading →

Although my path into medicine is just getting started (recently finished first year) I have noticed a few things related to patient safety that were kind of unexpected. The most striking aspect is the vast variation that is everywhere in our training – curricula, patient exposure, cultures, backgrounds, attitudes etc. Doctors (and every other health professional) are not robots and unlike robots, every single doctor brings to the table a different set of tools, experience, and perspectives that affects patients. This variation is incredible in many ways and makes problem solving happen, but what does it mean for patient safety? Should a patient have to rely on luck when it comes to getting a doctor who may/may not take those extra precautions needed for improved patient safety?

I am super excited about the Marseille Experience because topics like these are going to be front and center. I am really interested… Continue reading →